Solubility controls of arsenic, nickel, and iron in uranium mine tailings

Abstract

Uranium mill tailings from northern Saskatchewan, Canada contain elevated levels of As and Ni. The potential mobilization of these elements from the tailings management facilities to regional groundwater systems is an environmental concern for the uranium mining industry. In this study, electron microprobe analysis and synchrotron-based microfocussing X-ray fluorescence mapping and absorption spectroscopy (μ-XRF; μ-XAS) were used to identify and characterize the chemical composition of As-, Ni-, and Fe-bearing mineral phases at the micron scale in mine tailings samples from the Deilmann Tailings Management Facility (DTMF) located at the Key Lake mill of Cameco Corp. in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.